The finest art exhibitions to visit this October

Cezanne’s Card-Players. Cezanne’s series of paintings of peasants playing cards is often considered among his finest works of art. This exhibition will be the first to bring together a collection of these paintings alongside a group of Cezanne’s portraits of Provencal peasants and preparatory oil sketches and drawings. From the 21st October – January 2011. At Courtauld Gallery, The Courtauld Institute of Art, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2. 020 7848 2526 (see Country Life review 3 Nov 2010)

Invitation to the Ballet: Ninette de Valois and the Story of The Royal Ballet is a major new exhibition showing some of L S Lowry’s ballet drawings for the first time. The life and career of Ninette de Valois ran parallel with that of LS Lowry, whose love of ballet is perhaps a surprising element of his work for those familiar simply with his industrial scenes. A collaboration between the Royal Opera House and the Lowry, the exhibition is at the Lowry, Salford from 23 Oct to 6 March 2011. 0843 2086005 www.thelowry.com

Henry Aldrich (1648-1710) – An Oxford Universal Man; celebrating the tricentenary of the death of Henry Aldrich, Dean of Christ Church, architect, collector of music and prints, author of books on logic and architecture, at Christ Church Picture Gallery, Oxford from 22 Oct to 30 Jan 2011. 01865 276 172

Jack Morrocco – solo show – over 50 paintings by the Scottish colourist coinciding with a new book “Jack Morrocco – A Work in Progress” on show at Gullane Art Gallery, Gullan, East Lothian until 7 Nov. www.gullaneartgallery.co.uk

Solo show by Shazia Mahmood – new works of the West Coast of Scotland at Greens and Blues Gallery, 59 High Street, North Berwick until 24 Nov. www.greensandblues.co.uk

Sargy Mann’s new London exhibition of paintings, all painted since the artist became completely blind in 2005, on show at Cadogan Contemporary, South Kensington, London from 19 Oct to 13 Nov. www.cadogancontemporary.com

No New Thing Under the Sun – exhibition bringing together selected historical pieces from the RA Collection, together with works by contemporary artists – around 50 works spanning the last 500 years which look at time, transience and human vanity, the grandeur of life and the inevitability of death. On show in the Tennant Gallery at the Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1 from 21 Oct to 9 Jan. www.royalacademy.org.uk

Paintings, Sculptures and Prints by Breon O’Casey, a key figure in the St Ives artists’ group, at the Terrace Rooms, South Wing, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2 from 20 Oct to 30 Jan. www.somersethouse.org.uk

Thomas Lawrence: Regency Power and Brilliance at the National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Place, London WC2 from 21 oct to 23 Jan 2011. www.npg.org.uk. See preview in Country Life, 27 Oct 2010.

Peter Graham Roi – A Painter’s Journey – 50 new landscapes, interiors and still lifes by the renowned Scottish colourist on show at the Llewellyn Alexander Gallery, London until 10 Nov. www.gallery@llewellynalexander.com

Retrospective Exhibition of the work of John Carter from 1960s to the present, including wall sculptures, relief work and drawings, at the Redfern Gallery, 20 Cork Street, London W1 from 20 Oct to 11 Nov. www.redfern-gallery.com

CLOSING SOON

All Over the Place: Drawing Place, Drawing Space – recent drawings by 17 contemporary artists at the Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery, University of Leeds, Parkinson Building, Leeds from 22 June to 23 Oct. 0113 3432778

Teatopia – an exhibition which looks at the national pastime of tea drinking, from its links with countries and cultures to the design inspiration for the latest tea-taking wares. At the Millennium Gallery, Museums Sheffield, Arundel Gate, Sheffield until 24 Oct. 0114 278 2600

Edward Weston: Life Work – vintage prints by the quintessential 20th century American photographer at the City Art Centre, Edinburgh until Oct 24.

Artists’ Laboratory 01: Ian McKeever RA. The artist’s work reflects the expansiveness and openness the artist felt after leaving the city to live in the countryside for the first time since childhood. At The Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly. 8th Sept – 24th Oct. www.royalacademy.org.uk. 02073008000.

From Drawing-board to Display: the Work of the Wallace Collection Conservation Technician. The exhibition seeks to highlight the work of an unsung hero of the Department, the Conservation Technician, who plays a vital role in assisting in the display of the galleries and special exhibitions. At The Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square. 12th June – 24th Oct. 02075639567.

The Gallant Apparel – Italian Art and the Modern at Robilant + Voena, 38 Dover Street, London W1 until 27 Oct. www.robilantvoena.com

Flower paintings and still lifes by Harry More Gordon at Francis Kyle Gallery, 9 Maddox Street, London W1 until 21 Oct. www.franciskylegallery.com

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